The East Inlet Trail is significant under criteria A (Entertainment/Recreation and Politics/Government) and C (Landscape Architecture) with a period of significance of 1914-1945.

Long Significance Description:

East Inlet Trail is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria A and C, meeting the registration requirements set forth in the Trail Amendment to the Rocky Mountain National Park Multiple Property Listing. Under Criterion A, the trail is eligible in the area of Entertainment/ Recreation for its association with the early resort industry and tourism in the Grand Lake region with a period of significance starting in 1914 and ending in 1954, a date in keeping with the National Register criteria. Also under Criterion A it is significant in the area of Politics/Government for the involvement of 1930s federal relief agencies, specifically the Public Works Administration (PWA) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). In addition, the East Inlet Trail is eligible under Criterion C in the area of Landscape Architecture; the trail design reflects National Park Service (NPS) Naturalistic Design of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

The East Inlet Trail also reflects national trends described in Linda Flint McClelland’s Historic Park Landscapes in National and State Parks Multiple Property Listing. Under this second context, the trail is eligible under Criterion A in the area of Entertainment/ Recreation for its connection to the 20th century movement to develop national parks for public enjoyment, as well as in the area of Politics/ Government for the principles and practices of park landscape design used by the park in PWA and CCC projects. The trail is also eligible under Criterion C in the area of Landscape Architecture for a design that reflects NPS Naturalistic Design of the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

Construction Period:

Construction Period:

Historic

Chronology:

Physical Event

Begin Year

Begin Year AD/BC

End Year

End Year AD/BC

Designer

Designer Occupation

1.

Built

1914

AD

1914

AD

lodge owner or guide

2.

Altered

1924

AD

1924

AD

NPS

3.

Altered

1931

AD

1934

AD

NPS

4.

Altered

1935

AD

1935

AD

PWA

Other

5.

Designed

1935

AD

1935

AD

CMF

Engineer

6.

Designed

1935

AD

1935

AD

NPS Office of the Chief Engineer

Engineer

7.

Altered

1935

AD

1935

AD

ECW/CCC

Other

8.

Designed

1938

AD

1938

AD

GML

Engineer

9.

Designed

1938

AD

1938

AD

NPS Branch of Engineering

Engineer

10.

Altered

1939

AD

1940

AD

CCC

Other

11.

Altered

1940

AD

1940

AD

NPS

12.

Reconstructed

1970

AD

1970

AD

NPS

Function and Use:

Primary Historic Function:

Pedestrian Circulation

Primary Current Use:

Pedestrian Circulation

Structure Contains Museum Collections?:

No

Other Functions or Uses:

Other Function(s) or Use(s)

Historic or Current

No records.

Physical Description:

Structure Type:

Trail/Walk

Material(s):

Structural Component(s)

Material(s)

1.

Substructure

Earth

2.

Superstructure

Stone

3.

Superstructure

Wood

4.

Superstructure

Earth

Short Physical Description:

A 6.9 mile trail, beginning at the west portal of the Alva B. Adams Tunnel at 8400 feet elevation and climbing to 10,300 feet at Lake Verna.

Long Physical Description:

Location: West side of Rocky Mountain National Park, from Grand Lake to Lake Verna

Setting: Begins next to shore of Grand Lake and the west portal of the Alva B. Adams Tunnel; skirts along the East Inlet through marshy flood plain and higher forests, gaining westward views of Grand Lake